Tanzania’s electoral commission on Saturday declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the country’s general election, securing nearly 98 percent of the vote in a highly contested poll marred by violence, opposition boycotts, and allegations of repression.
The landslide victory grants Hassan, 64, a new five-year mandate to govern the East African nation of approximately 68 million people, solidifying her grip on power four years after assuming office following the death of former president John Magufuli in 2021.
However, her victory has sparked widespread unrest and condemnation, both domestically and internationally.
Protests and Violence
The election, held on Wednesday, quickly descended into chaos in several regions as demonstrators clashed with police, protesting what they called an “unfair and pre-determined” electoral process. Witnesses reported that angry crowds tore down campaign posters, set fire to government buildings, and blocked major roads in parts of Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza.
Police responded with teargas and live ammunition to disperse protesters, leading to multiple casualties.
Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, claimed on Friday that hundreds of people had been killed since the start of the unrest — a figure that the government has vehemently denied. The United Nations Human Rights Office, however, cited “credible reports” indicating at least 10 deaths in three cities.
The government’s spokesperson dismissed the opposition’s figures as “hugely exaggerated propaganda aimed at destabilizing the nation.”
Opposition Barred from the Ballot
Much of the anger fueling the demonstrations stems from the disqualification of Hassan’s two main challengers by the National Electoral Commission ahead of the vote. Opposition leaders accused the body of acting under government pressure to silence dissenting voices and guarantee the president’s re-election.
Several international observers and civil society groups were also denied accreditation, raising further concerns about transparency.
“This was not an election. It was a selection,” said a Chadema spokesperson in a statement. “The people of Tanzania were denied their democratic right to choose their leader.”
Government Defends Process
In her victory speech delivered late Saturday, President Hassan urged calm and unity, promising to be “a president for all Tanzanians.”
“The people have spoken clearly and decisively,” she said from the State House in Dodoma. “This election is a testament to our democracy, peace, and progress.”
Government officials have rejected claims of electoral malpractice, maintaining that the process was “free, fair, and transparent.”
“The opposition is simply refusing to accept defeat,” said government spokesperson Hassan Abbasi. “Our security agencies will not allow anarchy or destruction of public property.”
International Reaction
International reaction to the election has been cautious. While the African Union (AU) congratulated Tanzania on the peaceful conduct of voting, human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed alarm over the use of force against protesters and the reported detentions of opposition supporters.
The UN Human Rights Office has called for an “independent investigation” into the killings and for authorities to uphold freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
President Hassan, who has styled herself as a reformer and unifier since taking office, now faces a daunting task of restoring public confidence in state institutions and healing a nation bitterly divided by the vote.
Analysts say her next moves — particularly how she handles dissent and rights concerns — will determine whether her new term strengthens or undermines Tanzania’s fragile democracy.
